Locking means for a door construction



Dec. 4, 1956 L. SCHACHT 2,772,554

LOCKING MEANS FOR A DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1952 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [00/5 .4. Scmcw ATTORNEYS United States Patent LOCKING MEANS FOR A DOOR CONSTRUCTION- Louis L. Schacht, New York, N. Y., assignor to Schacht Associates, Inc, New York, N.. Y., a corporation of New York Application July. 22,-1952,.Serial'No.. 300,217

4 Claims. (Cl..70.-120) This invention relates to improvements in door constructiongenerally and, more particularly, to improvements in construction of a-swingingtypeofglassd'oor.

One object of the present inventionis'the provision inaswinging dor, of an improved 'lockiug means for locking the swinging end thereof securely and facilely;

Yet another object. of thepresent invention is the provision in, a swinging door, of'an improvedlocki'ng means of. the above character which is of'simple'design and con struction utilizing a minimum number of moving parts,

and which: is actuated at an intermediate positionfor simultaneously securely locking b'othends o'f the door to a complementary fixedstruoturei The above and othero-bjects, features and'advantages Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on. the: lineL3--31 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44'-of' Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective viewofv the molding.

strip shown in Fig. 5 in assembled relation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of: the door shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken awayto reveal structural details of the door locking arrangement;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the-line 8-8 of: Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line:99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the-line-llL-IO of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the-line-1-11I of Fig. 7; and

Fig.v 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig.

1 thereof, the door 10 which is of the swinging. type, comprises a framelZ having panels 14' secured therein in a. manner which will be describedin; detail hereinafter. The

frame 12 comprises a pair of verticallyextending laterally, spaced stiles 16 and 16', a horizontaltoprail-or member 18, an intermediate horizontal rail or member 20, and a bottom horizontal rail or member 22,. said rails and saidstiles being secured together in. assem'bledrelation in the manner shown in Fig. in any conventional. manner; as bymeansof welding. The frame. 1'2 constitutesthemain. structural member of door lll and the-panel's. aresup; ported in'sai'd frame. The panels 14 may be of. anyconven-tional constructionand in" the preferred embodiment, said panels areformed of glasswvh'ereby 'door 10 constitut'es a swinging glass door. The frame 12 of the door is adapted to be shipped or transported to. its place of erection-without the panels 14 secured thereto, said panels being adapted to be secured relative to frame 12 at the place. oferection of the door.

The top horizontal rail 18 (see Fig. 2) is preferably of a one-piece integral. construction and comprises a top wall 24, a bottomwall 26, and spaced side walls 28 and 3.0; said bottom wall being formed with a longitudinally extending channel 32 for the reception of the top marginal edge portion 34 of the upper panel 14. The top wall 24 is recessed downwardly from the upper edges 36 of the sidewalls 28 and 30, and the initially free longitudinally extending'marginal edge portions 38 and 40 of channel 32- are preferably butt welded together as indicated at 42'. Thus, the rail 18 is formed from fiat stock into the crosssectional shape shown in Fig. 2, and the secu-rement of thef-ree marginal edges 38 and 40 to each other at 42 results in a rail 18 of a one-piece integral construction. The bottom horizontal rail 22 is formed structurally simil'arto the top rail 18 except thatthe'side walls 28' and 30' of rail 22 arewider than the side walls 28 and 34 of rail 18' as indic-a'ted by acomparison of Figs. 2 and 4. The top wall- 26" of rail 22- is provided with a longitudinally extending channel 44m the reception of lower marginal edge portions '46 of the lower panel 14. It will be understood that channels' 32'and 44 of the top and bottom rails 1-8 -a'nd22, respectively, are structurally similar and that said rails have their end portions assembled to end portions ofstiles 1 6, 16' so that the channels 32 and 44 are in confronting disposition at opposite ends of the door; Thus', the top and-bottom rails 18 and 22, respectively, are structurally similar and are formed in a-structurally similarmanner.

The intermediate rail 20 comprises a pair of opposed push and. pull bars 48 and 5! which are. demountedly secured to the U-shaped channel member 52 which is the main structural member of rail 29; Push and pull bars 48' and 50; are structurally identical and are secured at opposite sides. of the door 10 to the spaced legs 54 of the ohannel1member52l The push and pull bars 48 and 50 are tapered in plan as best shown in Fig. 1 and comprise a pair of spaced legs 56 integral with the base or outer edge portion 58. Formed: integral with the legs 56 of the push; and pull bars 48'and 50 are longitudinally extending retainer strips. 60 and 60', said strips diverging outwardly from the ends of legs 515 remote from base 58. The retainer-strips 60' of the push and pull bars 48 and 50 are adaptd't'o cooperate with the lower marginal edge 62 of the upper panel'14 for retaining the latter in, position relative to frame 12. Similarly, the retainer strips 60 of. the push and pull bars are adapted to cooperate with the upperv marginal edge 61 of the lower panel 14 for retaining the latter in position relative tothe frame 12. As aforenoted the push and pull bars 48and 50are detachably mounted to the channel member 52, said detachable: mountingbeing eifected'in any conventional manner as by means of fastener. elements extending through the legs 5.4.of. channel. member 52 and adjacent portions of the push. and pull bars 48 and 50. It'wil-l be apparent that theextremit-ies .of the channel member 52 and the upper and. lower rails- 18 andv 22, respect-ively, are secured to portions. of the stiles16, 16' in any conventional manner to. form the frame 12 which constitutes the main structural member of .door 10..

Each. of the stiles-16, 16- is structurally similar and is .formed ofa onefpieceintegralzconstruction, said stiles comprisingan. arcuate front wall 70, an opposed rear wall. 72 and spaoed side walls'74, said rear wall having an intermediate portion-thereoflongitudinally recessed,

asihdi'cated'at 76,= towardsthe .front wall 70-. The rear.

upon the rear wall portions 80, with the portions 82 being bent back upon the portions 78 so that the rear wall portions 82, 78 and 80 are in reversed curve overlapping relation. The longitudinally extending marginal edge portions 84 of recess 76 are preferably butt welded together as indicated at 86. The overlapping portions 78 and 82 define therebetween the longitudinally extend ing pocket formations 88, the latter being adapted for the reception of complementary structure which will be described in detail hereinafter. It will be apparent from the above that outer side edges of recess 76 in conjunction with portions of rear wall 72 adjacent said recess define the pocket formations 88 which cooperate with the molding strip 90 for retaining the latter in place. Thus, the stiles 16, 16 are each of one-piece integral construction and have a recess 76 defined in the rear wall 72 thereof, outer side edge portions of said recess constituting the pocket formations 88 thereof. The molding strip 90 adapted to be used in conjunction with stiles 16. 16 comprise a generally U-shaped member comprising a base portion 92 having integrally formed therewith the laterally spaced legs 94. Integrally formed with legs 94 are strip portions or legs 96 which diverge outwardly from the ends of the legs 94 remote from the base portion 92. The longitudinally extending marginal portions 98 of the free ends of the strip portions or legs 96 are curved or turned outwardly a relatively small amount, said outwardly curved portions 98 being adapted to be received in the pocket formations 88 of recess 76 in the assembled condition of the stiles 16 and snap molding 96. It will be noted that the longitudinally extending snap molding 90 is of one-piece construction and is preferably formed from flat sheet metal stock. The legs 94 and 96 of the snap molding 90 are flexibly resilient and the latter legs are adapted to be snapped into position in the recess 76 and more particularly, the socket formations 88 thereof. Prior to the positioning of the side marginal edge 102 of panel 14 in the recess 180 defined by the base portion $2 and legs 94, the latter converge a relatively small amount towards each other from the base portion 92, and when the side marginal edge portions 102 of panel 14 is positioned in recess 100, said legs 94 are spread to a substantially parallel condition whereby said legs 94 will be urged towards each other to securely clamp the associated panel 14 in position relative to molding 90. It will be noted that the legs 94 and strip portions 96 define an acute angle therebetween and that said strip portions are resilient whereby the outwardly turned edge portions 98 may be snapped into position in the recess pocket formations 88.

In order to assemble panels 14 to frame 12 each of said panels has positioned thereon at both side marginal edge portions 102, a molding strip 90, it being understood that each of said molding strips will be of a length substantially equal to the vertical distance between the intermediate rail 20 and the outer rails 18 and 22. If desired, each of the marginal edges of the panels 14 may have secured thereto suitable taping or gasket strips whereby said taping or gasket strips will be interposed between the marginal edge portions of panels 14 and the channels 32 and 44 and recesses 100. After the molding strips 90 are positioned on the side marginal edges 182 of panels 14 the latter are ready for assembly to frame 12. It will be understood that two structurally similar molding strips 90 will be utilized for each panel 14, one such strip being positioned on each of the side marginal edge portions 102 of the panels 14. The assembly of upper panel 14 to the frame 12 is effected by inserting the upper horizontal marginal edge of said upper panel in the channel 32 of the rail 18 while at the same time working the molding strips 90 into the recesses 76 of stiles 16, 16. It will be understood that the legs or strip portions 96 of the molding strips 94 are sufficiently resilient whereby they will readily interengage with their complementary structure in stiles 16, 16. More particularly, the outwardly curved end portions 98 of legs 96 will snap engage in the pocket formations 88 of recess 76 in the assembled condition of the snap molding and stiles 16. From the above, it will be readily apparent that in the assembly of upper panel 14 to the frame 12 the marginal edge portions of said panel are worked into their associated structure of frame 12 until the assembly is completed. In the assembled relation of snap molding 90 and stiles 16, 16 the outwardly curved end portions 98 of said snap molding will be firmly interengaged in the recesses 76 and more particularly, in the pocket formations 88 of said recesses to thereby firmly retain the upper panel 14 in position relative to the frame 12. The lower panel 14 is assembled to frame 12 in the same manner as described above relative to the assembly of upper panel 14 to said frame. The assembly of the push and pull bars 48 and 50 to the channel member 52 completes the assembly and securement of the panels 14 to frame 12. Thus, when the push and pull bars 48 and 50 are assembled to frame 12 in the manner aforenoted the retainer strips 60 and 60 of said push and pull bars will cooperate with the marginal edge portions 62 and 64 of the upper and lower panels 14, respectively, to complete the securement of said panels to frame 12. From the above it will be apparent that the snap molding 90 and complementary structure defined in the stiles 16, 16' provide an efficient and ready means for the securement of panels 14 to frame 12. As noted above, the frame 12 is adapted for shipment to the place of erection without the panels 14, the latter being conventional and readily procurable through the usual sales outlets. Thus, the snap moldings or molding strips )0 in conjunction with the recesses 76 defined in stiles 16, 16 provide for a very simple and secure means for the assembly of glass panels 14 to frame 12 at the place of erection of door 10. In practice, the panels 14 may be snapped into position very quickly and facilely and similarly, said panels may be readily replaced by reversing the procedure aforedescribed. Thus, to replace a panel 14 it is merely necessary to remove its associated push and pull bar and unsnap the moldings 98 from their complementary structure in the stiles 16, 16' whereby said panel may be readily removed from the frame 12. There after a substitute panel 14 may be readily installed in frame 12 in conformity with the procedure described in detail above.

The glass or panelled door 10 is adapted to be mounted for swinging movement and one side thereof, for example the side adjacent the stile 16' is adapted to be pivotally mounted relative to a fixed structural support. The free or swinging side of door 10, for example the side of stile 16, is adapted to be releasably locked to a complementary fixed structure 134 by the locking arrangement now to be described.

With reference to Figs. 7 through 12, the locking means for door 10 comprises a pivotally mounted locking lever which is positioned between the opposed U-shaped brackets 112, the latter being secured to the channel member 52, interiorly thereof, in any conventional manner. The locking lever 110 is mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot pin 114, the latter having its end portions secured to the brackets 112. It will be understood that the locking lever 110, which is disposed between the brackets 112, will be normally hidden from view by the push and pull bars 48 and 58 when the latter are assembled to the frame 12. Disposed in the stile 16 at the swinging side of door 10 is a vertically disposed, longitudinally extending channel member 116, the latter being mounted for axial movement in stile 16 and is guided in such axial movement by means of the guide brackets 118 which are also disposed in stile 16. The

axially reciprocable channel member 116 has its base cated at 122 for the reception therethroughot; the-re.-.

duced end portion 124 ofthe locking lever '110: The rear wall 72 of stile 16 is slotted as-indicated at 126 for the reception of the reduced end portion 124 of lever 110, said slot 126 being of a length to provide suflicient clearance for the range of pivotal movement of the lever- 110. From the above, it will be apparent that the pivotal movement of lever 110 will be effective to concommitantly axially reciprocate the channel member 116. Secured to the upper end of member 116, in any conventional manner, is a locking element 128, the end portion 130 thereof being adapted to be received in the socket 132 defined in the fixed structure 134 when said locking element is in the locked position. Suitably secured to the wall 24 of the bottom rail 22, at the exterior face 25 thereof, is a generally U-sh'ap'ed bracket 136, the latter having pivotally mounted between the spaced legs 138 thereof, a lever 140 which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the bracket 136 by means of the pivot pin 142, the latter having its end portions secured to the spaced legs 138 of said bracket. The" lower end of the channel member 116 is apertured at144'for the reception therein of the reduced end portion 146 of the lever 140. The rear wall 72 of stile-16 is slotted at 148 for the reception therethrough of the reduced'end portion 146 of lever 140, said slot being of a suflicient length to provide clearance for the range of pivotal movement of said lever. The opposite end of the lever 140 is provided with an integral ball or spherical fitting 150 which is adapted for reception in the transverse aperture 152 of the locking element 154. The locking element 154 is guided for axial movement in any conventional-manner as by means of the guide bracket 156 which is secured to the upright wall 158 of bracket 136. The base wall 160 of the bracket 136 is aperturedat 162for the axial extension therethrough of the end portion 164 of the locking element 154. The end portion 1640f the locking element 154 is adapted to be received in the socket 166 of fixed support 134 in the locked position of said locking element.

It will be readily apparent from the above that the pivotal movement of lever 110 will be effective to simultaneously axially extend and retract the locking elements 128 and 154 corresponding to the direction of said pivotal movement of said lever. In Figs. 7 through 12 the locking elements 128 and 154' are shown in an axially extended locked position, being received in sockets 132 and 166 of the fixed support 134. To unlock the locking elements 128 and 154 the lever 110 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, to thereby axially reciprocate channel member 116 in. a downward position to thereby retract locking element 128 from socket 132 and to pivot lever 140 in a counterclockwise direction, said pivotal movement of lever 140 being effective to retract locking element 154 from socket 166 due to the cooperative association between fitting 150 of lever 140 and the transverse aperture 152 of locking element 154. Thus it will be seen that the locking elements 128 and 154 are simultaneously;extendiblei and retractible under the control of the locking lever 110,

the latter being in turn under the control of the locking provision 170, now to be described.

The locking provision 170 is housed 'in the push and pull bars 48 and 50 and is supported by the opposed U-shaped brackets 112. The locking'provision 170' comprises a pair of locks 172 and 172', said locks being disposed and accessible for actuation at opposite sides of the door 10. Lock 172 extends through complementary aperture 174 of wall 176 of push and pull-bar 50 whereas lock 172 is structurally associated with push and pull bar 48 in a similar manner as lock 172 is associated with push and pull bar 50. Locks 172 and 172' are adapted to independently control and actuate the lever 110 whereby it will be apparent thatthe' locking and unlockingof= door 10 n1ay be efiected fromeither side'thereof. The locks 172 and 172' are mounted on plates 178 and-v 180, respectively, the latter plates being secured to. the brackets 112 by means of the studs 182 and 182", the

stud 182 extending between plates 178 and 180 through the brackets 112, whereas the studs 182 extend between the brackets 112 and plates 178 and 180 but do not ex'-- tend between the brackets 112. The actuation of the locks 172 and 172' is under the control of a suitable key which is adapted to be received in said locks for actuating the latter. Projecting from each of the locks 172 and 172' is an actuating shaft 184, the latter being secured to a rotatable drum 186 which has a face portion:

188 positioned in abutting relation with its associated;

latter being adapted to actuate the lever 110 aforedescribed. Thus, the train of mechanism aforedescribed associated with the locks 172 and 172' is structurally identical, with each of said locks being adapted to in dependently control the. actuation of locking lever 110..

The lever 110 has a plate-like projecting end portion 192' remote from its reduced end portion 124, said projecting end portion terminating in a hooked portion.194-,

the latter being substantially narrower than the portion 192 to define the shoulders 196 at the juncture of the portions 192 and 194. Mounted on pivot pin 200, transversely extending between the brackets 112, is a lock element 202 which is adapted to coact with the pin mem bers 190 and the lever 110 in a manner now to 'bede-' scribed. The pivotally mounted lock element 202 is generally U-shaped having a base portion 204 and laterally spaced" legs 206, said base portion 204 being 'cut away at 20.8 for the reception of the biasing spring 210,

the latter being positioned on pivot pin 200 between the laterally spaced legs 206 of said lock element. The hooked end 212 of the spring 210 is adapted to engage an intermediate portion of stud 182 and the opposite end 214 of said spring is adapted to engage the edge 215 of they base portion 204 of the lock element 202. From the above it will be apparent that the lock element 202 will be biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9." In order to project the locking elements 128 and .154 tothe locked position, one of the locks 172 and 172' will be rotated by means of a complementary key inserted therein to thereby rotate one of the pin members 190, the rotation of the latter cooperating with the upper face 216 of the portion 192 to thereby pivot lever 110'in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 114, said movement of one of the pin members 190 being continued until the shoulders 196 of lever 110 interengage with the:

spaced locking portions 220 of the lock element 202. It will be apparent that the rotation of said one of the pin members 190 will cause the. end portion 192 of lever 110 to pivot; said lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.

7, said portion 192 coacting with the spaced cam edges 222'- of' the spaced legs 206 to retract said legs to aposition whereby the shoulders 196 of portion 192 will move past theend of said ca m edges to thereby cause the interen gagement of said shoulders with' the locking portions 220' of element 202. The movement of lever 110 in a locking direction may be effectedby the rotation of pin members 190 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as will be readily apparent, since the rotation of said pin members in either such direction will be effective to-pivot the. lever 110 in a clockwise direction'as viewed in Fig. 7.

To pivot the; lever 110 in an unlocking direction the lock-172 will be rotated in'a counter-clockwise direction I as viewed in Fig. 9 whereby the pin member 190 associated with said lock will be etfective to rock the end portion 192 of lever 110 a small amount in a clockwise direction, the further movement of said pin member in said counter-clockwise direction being effective to retract the lock element 202 from interengagement with A the shoulders 196 of lever 110 whereby the further movement of said pin member in said direction will result in the interengagement of the latter with the hooked portion 194, said interengagement being effective to pivot the lever 110 to the unlocked position. Thus the rotation of one of the pin members 190 in an unlocking direction will be effective to slightly pivot the lever 110 in a locking direction and said pin member will coact with the cam edges 222 of the element 202 to retract said element from interengagement with the shoulders 196 of said lever whereby the further rotation of said pin member will result in the interengagement of the latter with the hooked portion 194, said pin member being further rotated in an unlocking direction until said lever is snapped into the unlocked position by means of the biasing of the element 202 by the spring 210.

While a specific lock provision 170 has been illustrated and described in detail for controlling the lever 110 and its associated locking mechanism, it will be understood that any other suitable lock provision may be utilized for controlling the actuation and locking of the lever 110. It will be understood that the door 10, having the locking arrangement above described, may be locked and unlocked from either side of the door by the locks 172 and 172' which have their keyholes 173 accessible at the push and pull bars 4% and 50. The locking mechanism above described is entirely disposed in the frame 12 of the door and the locking elements 128 and 154 are adapted to be simultaneously extended in response to the movement of the locks 172 and 172' in a locking direction. Thus, door may be conveniently locked from an intermediate position, said locking being effective to simultaneously securely lock both ends of the door to the complementary fixed structure 134.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A lock for a door construction having a vertically extending hollow stile and a horizontally disposed hollow frame member intermediate the ends theerof, comprising actuating means disposed in said frame member and having a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis disposed in said frame member and laterally spaced from said stile, said lever having an end part extending to said stile, an axially reciprocable member disposed in said hollow stile and operatively connected to said lever end part, and locking elements operatively connected to end portions of said reciprocable member and adapted for simultaneous extension and retraction in response to the axial reciprocation of said reciprocable member, the extended position of said locking elements constituting the locked position thereof and the retracted position of said locking element constituting the unlocked position thereof, the actuation of said actuating means being effective to pivot said lever about said axis to correspondingly actuate said reciprocable member and said locking elements, and locking means disposed in said frame member at the opposite side of said pivot axis to said stile and operatively associated with said actuating means for controlling the actuation thereof.

2. A lock for a door which has a frame which comprises hollow vertical channeled stiles, a horizontal channeled frame member extending between said stiles intermediate the opposite ends thereof, panels of translucent material mounted in the channels of said vertical stiles and said horizontal frame member, said lock comprising a locking device mounted for vertical movement in one of said vertical stiles to and from door-retaining and doorreleasing positions, and movable means mounted within said hollow horizontal member and projecting from the latter into said one of the vertical stiles and operatively connected to said locking device for actuating the latter, and key-operable means mounted on said horizontal frame member at the inner and outer sides, respectively,

of said frame and each operatively connected to said actuating means within said hollow horizontal frame member for operating said actuating means.

3. A look for a door which has a frame which comprises hollow vertical channeled stiles, a horizontal channeled frame member extending between said stiles intermediate the opposite ends thereof, panels of translucent material mounted in the channels of said vertical stiles and said horizontal frame member, and a horizontally extending push-pull bar on said frame on the inner and outer sides, respectively, of the door, for opening said door, said lock comprising a locking device mounted for vertical movement in one of said vertical stiles to and from door-retaining and door-releasing positions, movable means mounted within said hollow horizontal member and projecting from the latter into said one of the vertical stiles and operatively connected to said locking device for actuating the latter, and key-operable means mounted on said horizontal frame member at the inner and outer sides, respectively, of said frame and each operatively connected to said actuating means within said hollow horizontal frame member for operating said actuating means, said key-operable means being accessible for operation at the front of said push-pull bars, respectively.

4. A lock for a door which has a frame which comprises hollow vertical channeled stiles, a horizontal channeled frame member extending between said stiles intermediate the opposite ends thereof, panels of translucent material mounted in the channels of said vertical stiles and said horizontal frame member, said lock comprising a locking device mounted for vertical movement in one of said vertical stiles to and from door-retaining and door-releasing positions, and movable means mounted within said hollow horizontal member and projecting from the latter into said one of the vertical stiles and operatively connected to said locking device for actuating the latter, said movable means comprising a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends on said frame member for vertical movement about a horizontal pivot, a part of said lever at one side of said pivot being connected to said locking device in said stile, and a key-operable member carried by said horizontal frame member and operatively connected to a part of said lever at the opposite side of said pivot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,197 Fries Aug. 16, 1898 849,742 -Mandry Apr. 9, 1907 952,689 Smith Mar. 22, 1910 1,341,038 Bickel May 25, 1920 1,395,688 McCulloch Nov. 1, 1921 1,408,629 Palmer Mar. 7, 1922 1,618,814 Connell et al Feb. 22, 1927 2,044,381 Denuell June 16, 1936 2,261,353 Fedele Nov. 4, 1941 2,448,748 Vanderveld Sept. 7, 1948 2,601,775 Iewett et al. July 1, 1952 2,605,869 Backman Aug. 5, 1952 

